Sunday, March 13, 2016

Classics: A Review of Sabrina By Lauren Ennis

From the first fairytales and fables that we hear as
children to the novels and films that we enjoy as adults stories contain
timeless themes that continue to touch and influence our lives. One such
familiar theme is the rags to riches success story that makes up every underdog
tale from Cinderella to the modern American dream. One film encompasses this
familiar theme is a way that is both an endearing take on a classic and a
comment on contemporary life; Sabrina.
This 1954 romantic comedy continues to serve equally well as romantic escapism
and social satire even decades after its release.

Nobody puts Audrey in the corner!

The story begins as chauffer’s daughter Sabrina
Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn) longingly looks on as her father’s employers, the
Larrabees, hold their annual summer party. Even though she is preparing to
leave for cooking school and start a new life in Paris the next day, Sabrina is
consumed with regret that she can never part of the glittering world of the
Larrabees and their social set. As the party winds down, she comes upon her
long-time crush, playboy David Larrabee (William Holden), in the midst of
seducing another woman. Distraught, she impulsively attempts suicide only to be
caught and rescued just in time by David’s older brother, staid businessman
Linus (Humphrey Bogart). She then leaves for her trip as scheduled and embarks
upon a journey of more than mere miles as she acquires a new outlook,
self-confidence, and of course cooking skills. By the time that she returns to
the Larabee estate two years later she no longer resembles the awkward girl
living above the estate garage and is every bit the Parisian sophisticate. Her
new persona quickly turns David’s head, putting his impending marriage and the
Larrabee business merger depending on that marriage in danger. In order to keep
the business and wedding plans in place the Larrabee’s send Linus to distract
and ultimately send Sabrina back to Paris. What the Larrabee’s don’t count on,
however, is the effect of the charms of the chauffer’s daughter on Linus as
well as David.

The film is a rare romantic comedy that works equally
well as both a comedy and a romance. Sabrina’s evolution from smitten
schoolgirl to confident woman provides an excellent backdrop for her dual
romances as she grows out of her infatuation with David in favor of a
relationship with the more mature Linus. This same trajectory plays well for
laughs with her teenage angst so over-the-top that it serves equally well as both
dark comedy and insight into adolescent growing pains. Similarly her
interactions with Linus build to a solid romantic foundation with their
opposite personalities leaving plenty of opportunity for hijinks. The film also
contains a satisfying mix of dry wit and broad comedy with each physical act of
comedy such as David’s champagne glass accident matched by equally amusing
witticisms courtesy of the sparkling cast of characters.

What a little la vie en rose can do

The exemplary cast carries off the romance and comedy
aspects of the script with equal aplomb. William Holden imbues his playboy role
with a roguish charm that offers no apologies for David’s shenanigans while
leaving little doubt as to why Sabrina is so smitten with him. Humphrey Bogart,
best known for moody dramas and thrillers proves himself an apt comedic actor
in his portrayal of business savvy, but socially awkward, Linus which lends
credibility to both Linus’ reputation as a ruthless tycoon and his sweet
interactions with Sabrina. While the cast turns in uniformly excellent
performances, the film belongs to Hepburn who is a pure delight in her innocent
and effervescent performance as a modern-day Cinderella whose secret weapon is
not a glass slipper but a winning personality and self-confidence.

Bubbly, witty, and hopelessly romantic, all these
phrases aptly describe both Sabrina
and its titular heroine. The film’s combination of heartfelt romance and
razor-sharp wit make it a winner with something for audiences of all ages and
cinematic tastes. The superb cast bring the script to life with a sparkling wit
and genuine emotion that ensures that audiences will root for its happy ending,
even while enjoying its sly jabs at social disparity. Light as a moonbeam
across a starlit sky and effervescent as a fresh glass of champagne, Sabrina is an example of romantic comedy
at its finest.